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Knights Hospitaller

Type Object Region Levant Time c. 1023

The Knights Hospitaller (Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem) originated as an 11th-century hospital for pilgrims in Jerusale…

Timeline

  1. c. 1023–1113Jerusalem · LevantAmalfitan Italian merchants funded the establishment of a hospital of Saint John in Jerusalem, dedicated to caring for sick and poor pilgrims, forming the embryo of the order and receiving papal protection.
  2. c. 1140–1170Levant · SyriaDuring the grand mastership of Raymond du Puy, the order formally took on military defense duties, taking over Krak des Chevaliers in 1142 and substantially rebuilding it, forming an integrated Levantine defense system of hospital–castle–fleet.
  3. c. 1175–1180Krak des Chevaliers (Homs Castle) · SyriaAround 1175 the Knights Hospitaller used Krak des Chevaliers as a hub to command frontier defense in Syria while maintaining the great hospital at Acre, coordinating with the Knights Templar by division of territory to counter Saladin's expansion.
  4. 1291–1798Rhodes · GreeceAfter the fall of Acre and the loss of their Levantine territories, the Knights used Rhodes and Malta as bases to continue sea patrols and their hospital tradition, becoming an important anti-Ottoman armed force in the Mediterranean until Napoleon's occupation of Malta.

Sources